Trolling fish lure



.1. E. M. CHAMBERLAINE 1,8 5,096

April 19, 1932.

' TROLLING FI SH LURE Filed Dec. 11, 1950 2 ShBets-Shee't 1 eflif/wfizerzazbe.

.- A ril 19, 1932. J. E. M. CHAMBERLAIN-E.

TROLLING FISH LURE Filed Dec. 11, 1950 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr.-19, 1932 UNITED STATES,

qosnrn E. it. cnmnnnnnmn, or summons, MARYLAND 'TROLLING msn LoanApplication filed December 11, 1880. Serial No. 501,643.

This invention appertains to improvements in fish lures or artificialbait generally and more particularly to types thereof for the catchingof fish by trolling. g g

.5 An object of the invention is to provide a lure of the class setforth, which is of an arrangement, construction and design to closelyresemblea live fish, ingeneral appearance and motion,'when trolledthrough a body of 1 water, with the added effectiveness of attractingnearby fish to the same by glittering and flashing light rays byreflect-ion, during its forward trolling movements.

Another object of the invention is to make 15 the improved lure ofmetal, in different sizes and weights, whereby theme of weightingsinkers may be entirely dispensed with, and, by the selection of aproper size and weight of lure, successful catches of. fish can always I90 be attained, whether the fish are running on or near the surface, oron-the bottom, or in mid-water. i

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a means oneach lure whereby dulled or broken hooks may'be easily and readily'removedand replaced from regular or standard stock. I

A still further object of the invention has todo with thesprovision of ameans for at- 0 taching one to three hooks on a fish lure body and in amanner that a maximum of protectionis offered the attached hook or hooksagainst breakage, or other damage, or accidental displacement frompredetermined operative-position on the supporting body, while disposingthem in highest efi'ective relation to the latter to assure of the catchof a fish after its strike.

4o Withthe foregoing and other equally important objects and advantagesin view, the

- invention-resides in the certain new and useful combinatlon,construction and arrangement bf 1 parts as will be hereinafter more Tfully described, set forth in the appended Iclaims, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single boo tyg e of the improved lure,

igure 2 is a top plan view,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view, Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinalsectio taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the. line 5 5 ofFigure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of'a two hook modification of thelure,

Figure 7 is a fragmentar horizontal section through the rear hal.portion'of the form of lure as in Figure 6, I go Figure 8 is a sideelevation of a modified form of the lure, showing the manner of mountingthree hooks in-grouped arrangement thereon,

, tion taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 9,

Figure .12 is a fragmentary horizontalsectlOl taken on the line 12-12 ofFigure 11, an

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 13-13 ofFigure 8.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts in the several co related views thereof,and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the embodiment of theinvention, as shown therein by way of example only, is preferablyconstituted in a metallic body 21, generally in the form of a fish W inplan and arcuate in vertical section, with itsupper side hollowed out orconcaved substantially throughout its-length and its lower side,together with its opposite sides, formed to provide a series of angledsurfaces 22 extending in thevlongitudinal direction thereof. j

The forward end or head portion of the mounted in the pointed en body 21hasits opposite sides and bottom converging on curved linesto anapproximate point in the plane of its longitudinal center, with ageneral curvature in an up ward direction of a greater sharpness thanthe rear end or tail portion, in order to offer a minimum of resistanceto the water during. trolling movements,'while the latter portion issomewhat flattened and oppositely and outwardly flared to formapproximately a caudal fin, 23, The concavity in the upper side ofthebody gradually decreases in depth toward the rear end thereof andfinallymerges into thesubstantially flattened upper surface of thecaudal fin or tail portion 23.

A member, such as a rin or the like 24, is d aforesaid of the headportion of the body21 to facilitate the attachment of a trolling linethereto.

The single hook member, to be employed in this form of the lure, has itsattaching eye 27, at the end of theshank portion 26 opposite the hookend,25 thereof, preferably arranged at right angles'to the latter, andthis eye end of the shank is to be inserted inwardly-of a groove orslotway 28, formed in the lower side of the tail portion of the body, toand through a passageway 29 and into a connected groove or slotway 30formed in the upper surface of the hollowed out or concaved portionaforesaid.

This passageway 29 inclines upwardly and forwardly through the body 21,between its points of connectionwith the grooves or slotways 28 and 30',so that the hook 25 must be turned sidewise in order to allow the eyeportion 27 to traverse the same and thereafter be turned to verticalposition, when the return bent or pointed end portion will projectforwardly over the tail portion in the plane of the'longitudinal centerof the body 21, and its eye 27 ,now disposed horizontally of the body,will seat in a circular depression 31 formed inthe surface 'of the upperconcaved side of the latter for seourement therein by a suitablefastening means.

This passageway 29 may be employed with or without the grooves 28 and30, depending upon the thickness of the metal from which the body 10 ismade, and, iii-either case, by having it to open through the body i-nthe manner stated, it is somewhat elongated lon-Z gitudinally of thebody and its transverse width is sufficient only to permit of theinsertion of the shank portion 26 of the hook member therethrough, sothat it acts to hold the latter substantially rigid when the eye portion27 is turned to horizontally securedposition. v As shown, the aforesaidfastening means is preferably in the form of a machine screw or the like32, which is passed downwardly through the eye 27 and an opening alinedtherewith for engagement with a nut 33 at the lower side .of the body21. This nut 33 ment of the nut 33, and making use of a rounded screwhead, no IGSlStaIICB WIlI be offered to the otherwise free trollingmovements of the lure. Y

In the form 'of the invention, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, two hooks 25are employed and the shankportions 26 and the eye portions 27' thereofare to be seated in the grooves or slotways 28 and 30 and the circulardepression 31', as inthe first instance. Here,

the shank 26- andvthe eye 27 of one hook 25' 30 will, however, overliethe other and both eyes will be engaged by the fastening or'screw 32'.WVhen properly secured-in place, the hooked portions 25 will beoppositely and outwardly angled in an upward direction,

with the pointed end portions thereof disposed above the extreme outerends or tips of the caudal fins 23'.

In order to'effectively secure'thetwo hooks 25' in place, the fasteningor screw 32' is pref- I erably reversed, from that of the single hooktype of lure hereinbefore described, with its threaded end uppermost andengaged with the alined openings in the body 21' and the eyes 27', sothat a relatively thin nut 33' may .be employed therewith and caused toseat against the uppermost eye and Within the depression 31 with itsupper face flush with the surrounding surface of the bod Referring nowto Figures 8 to 13 lnclusive',

the embodiment of the invention therein shown employs three books 25" ingrouped arrangement about the tail portion ofthe lure body 21", and hereone hook is mounted in the plane of the ,longitudinal center of thebody, after the manner of the mountlng of,

the single hook 25 in the first instance, i. e., the shank portion 26"being engaged in the alined grooves or slotways 28" and 3 and thepassageway 29 connecting the same, and

the eye portion 27 in a' circular depression 31 in the upperconcavedside of the body at the forward end of the groove or slotway 30- Afastening 32", preferably arranged in the body 21 after the manner ofthe .115 fastening 32' in the second instance of the m- 'vention, islikewise employed tolsecure the eye portion 27 in place within thedepression 31".

. In order to mount the two remaining hooks 130 2-5" in place, one ateach side of the central hook aforesaid, a slotted opening 34 is formedin each vertical side wall portion of the body 21 toward the forward endof the tail port-ion of the latter and is connected by a rear Theseslotted openings 34, the passageways 35 and the recess 36 are arrangedin the body 21" in a horizontal plane above that I of the central grooveor slotway 28'. in order to allow quickand easy removal and replace mentof any one of the hooks without is desired or necessary. I

The slotted openings 3& terminate at'their forwardly directed ends incircular depressions, which are disposed in alinement transversely ofthe body 21 and are connected by an opening for the reception therein ofa interference with the others, whenever that ,bolt fast'emng 37 to bealso engaged through the eyes 27 of the outer hooks 25, When properlysecured in position, the headedend of the bolt 37 and the securing nuttherefor are preferably housed withirathe' depressions,

' substantially as is shown.

In order to rovide a sufiicient amount of, clearance for t e insertionof the shanks 26" of the outer of the hooks 25," inwardly of the arecess 36 and forwardly of the'passagew'a s and the slotways 34, therear facesof t e caudal fins 23' are preferably grooved, as at 38,outwardly from the recess 36, sothat the eye end of the shanks thereofmay be disposed at a proper angle for the purpose. When in will seatinthe grooves 38,. while the outer curved portions thereof will extendabout the tips of the fins 23" and'the pointed ends forwardly from thetips in spaced relation to the adjacent sides of the body 21".

In this grouped arrangement of the three hooks 25", it will becomprehended'that'the outer of. the same a-re supported in sidewise'relation to the body 21",whereby th'e hooked ends thereof will be insubstantially right angular relation to the hooked end of the centralhook and the points of all hooks will extend in a forward direction insubstantially and parallel relation one with respect to the other;

the spacing of the pointed ends being such that a fish will be hookedregardless of the angle of strike of the fish at the tail portion of thelure. By making the lures of-diiferent weights of metal, the same can beinterchangeably em:

ployed for trolling on the surface of a body of water or at any depththerein, as'has been hereinbefore suggested, and by giving the same ahighly polished finish, they will glitter flash during trollinmovements, the ghttermg'and flashing e ects thereof being augmented bythe angled outerfaces or facets formed on the, outer and lower sides ofthe 4 -bodies.

Without further description, it is thought that the, features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will of course be understood that'changes in form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the mventlon or its scope as claimed.

tive'ly of the b0 What'isiclaimed I I 1. In a lure of the classdescribed, a comparatively-heavyweight metal body of true fish, form inplan, line attaching means at the head end of said'body, said bodyhaving a central passageway formed through the same forwardly of thetailend portion there of, anda'hook having its shank portion passingforwardly through the, said passageway for 'its .g securement to andsubstantially fiat against the upper side of said body and in amannenthat its hooked end extendsi-mmedi ately. upward from beneath the,rear end of the body, "with the pointed end thereof projecting-forwardlyof the latterend of the body in spaced relation thereto, the selectedweight of said body acting to determine the depth of eflctive operationof the lure in a body'of water. 4 v

2." A lure as set, forth in claim 1, wherein the body' isconcavo-convexsubstantially throughout its length-and with thesaid passageway openinginto the concavity, and the shank portion of the hook is substantiallyhoused'in grooves extending forwardly and rearwardly from the oppositeends of the pas sageway. place, the lunar. curved portions of the hooks3. The lure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said body issubstantially in the form of a fish, with a caudal finformation at itsrear end curving in a rearward and upward directign therefrom to conformto the bend in the hookconnectingportionhf the shank of the hookand amanner tolact as a guard 4. In a lure-of, the class described,;a' solidmetal body 0fsubstantially longitudinal arcuate form, line attachingmeans at the forward end'of' said body, the rear upwardly curved endportion of said'body having the form 'of a caudal fin, said body havinga passageway opening through the same just forwardl ,7

extending forwardly 'and rearwardly there-- from in the upper and lowersides respecofthe said caudal finand grooves hooks having their shank'portions inserted orwardly through the said passageway and seated insuperimposed rela tion in the said grooves with the hooked ends thereofextending in oppositely inclined rela-' tion above and forwardly of therear end of said body and from between the oppositely diverging portionsof the said caudal fin, and means for commonly securing the attachingeye ends of said hooks to said body.-.

5-. In a lure ofthe class described, a solid metal body of substantiallylongitudinal way and seated in the said grooves with the hooked endthereof extending upwardly and forwardy of the rear'end of said body,means for securing the forward end of the said shank l to said body,said body also having passageways leading forwardly from the center ofthe rear end and opening outwardly-of the opposite sides thereof, hookshavin their shank portions inserted forwardly t rough said last namedpassageways and their hooked ends projecting angularly in oppositedirections with respectto said first named hook, and another meansextending transversely of said body for commonly securing the attachingeyes of the last named hooks in place.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPHv E. M. CHAMBERLAINE-

